The 39 Steps at New Theatre Cardiff
DISCLOSURE – TICKETS TO SEE THE SHOW WERE GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER AND GUEST FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW
Reviewed by Kathy Sanderson
A Hilarious Evening Out at the New Theatre, Cardiff
I’d been looking forward to our date night for weeks so what a marvellous evening out at the New Theatre in Cardiff, catching “The 39 Steps” with my husband, was. After a whirl of activities running our business and all kids’ activities, this play was the perfect little bit of me time for us both
“The 39 Steps,” was first staged in 1996 and revamped in 2005 for a more modern audience. It is a very clever parody of the classic thriller by John Buchan, written in 1915, and its famous 1935 film adaptation by Alfred Hitchcock. With just four actors taking on 139 roles, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I was absolutely delighted by the result. The curtain lifted to reveal a starkly simple set, and the laughter started almost immediately. These weren’t just chuckles; these were genuine, laughs that echoed through the entire theatre.
The cast was fantastic, each one deserving praise for their spot-on comedic timing. The lead Tom Byrne, who played Richard Hannay, was immediately charming, making you root for him right from the start.
Safeena Ladha, playing Hannay’s three love interests, was absolutely brilliant. Her perfect blend of elegance and comedic timing completely captivated us. And the two clowns, Eugene McCoy, and Maddie Roy, who portrayed the rest of the characters were simply spectacular. Their quick switches from one character to another were absolutely hilarious, keeping us laughing and completely engaged the whole time.
The scene that sticks with me the most was when the clowns flipped from a Scottish innkeeper to a shady spy in a heartbeat. The energy and creativity of that performance had us all in the theatre laughing out loud and all thoroughly swept up in the fun.
It’s not just the acting that was impressive—the production’s minimalistic approach with props and lighting brilliantly evoked different scenes across the UK. Again this is something I’ve not seen before and after seeing many lavish performances was a refreshing change proving that less really can be more.
Sharing this night out with my husband, enjoying something that wasn’t just about work or the kids, felt so special. It reminded us how essential it is to make time for these moments for laughter and joy.
“The 39 Steps” is a testament to the power of good theatre to uplift and entertain, and it’s a show I’d heartily recommend. I give it a resounding 5 out of 5 stars.
Rating: 5/5
If you need a good dose of laughter—which, let’s face it, we all do from time to time—this is the play to see.
Tickets cost from £24 plus £3.95 transaction fee.
The 39 Steps is at The New Theatre, Cardiff until Saturday 27th April.
https://trafalgartickets.com/new-theatre-cardiff/en-GB
For more information or to book tickets visit https://booking.trafalgartickets.com/en/new-theatre-cardiff/buyingflow/tickets/19159/
New Theatre, Park Pl, Cardiff CF10 3LN